Automatic window closer



Nov. 8, 1955 D. J. MOONEY AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1952 Nov. 8, 1955 D. J. MOONEY AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1952 "T 0N m J l 8 n 0 0 BY ma United States Patent AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSER Daniel J. Mooney, Richmond, Va. Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,880

1 Claim. (Cl. 268-123) absence. However, it frequently happens that windows must be closed on account of the possibility of wind beating rain in through the window and ruining furniture or other articles within the house.

The present invention provides an automatic window closer which is operable in response to a quantity of rain entering through a window to release the window for automatic closing. This is done by means of a paper strip of the variety which has a very weak condition when wet and a weight applied to the strip so that when the paper is wetted, the weight will sever the strip. The window is supported by a cord attached to the strip so that when the strip is severed, the cord will allow the window to close, friction means being provided to prevent breakage of the window by too fast closing.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improved window closer.

The further object of the invention is to provide means responsive to wetting to close a window.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic window closer for closing a window in response to moisture entering therethrough.

ther objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of an open window with the automatic closer attached;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the window closing release;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through the release taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section through the release taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the tension controller;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the and,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the sash cord stop.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the window is provided with a suitable fastener such as a screw eye connected adjacent the central portion thereof to which is attached a supporting cord 14. The supporting cord 14 is trained through a sheave 16 mounted in the window frame 18 above the window and a second sheave 20 is mounted adjacent the corner of the window frame so that the cord 16 attached to the screw eye 12 is entrained over the sheave 16 and the sheave 20.

The window release comprises an open topped houspaper clamp;

ing 22 preferably constructed of sheet metal and having a bottom member 24 adapted to be connected to any suitable portion such as the window sill or the outside frame of the window by means of screws 26. The screws 26 are preferably retained in keyhole type openings 28 so that the housing 22 may be readily engaged or disengaged from the screws 26. A paper retaining roller 30 is journaled between the side walls 32 and 34 of the housing 22. The roller 30 is preferably provided with a transverse slot 36 so that the end of a strip of paper 38 may be secured therein and wound as a roll 40 on the roller 30. Transverse supporting pins 42, 44 and 46 are provided in spaced relation in a housing 22 and are preferably secured into the side walls 32 and 34. Preferably one of the supporting members such as 46 is placed in out-of-line relation to the remaining supports so that the paper may be entrained through the support members to maintain a tension relation therein. Locking means such as a star wheel 48 is rigidly secured to one end of the roller 30 and a pivoted detent 50 engages the star wheel 48 to prevent rotation of the roller 30 to unwind the paper 38 unless the detent 50 is elevated out of contact with the star wheel 48. For simplicity of construction, the detent 50 is mounted on the extending end of the support member 42 and it may either be pivoted thereon or the support member 42 may be journaled in the walls 32 and 34.

5 ends and 62 while a tension ring 64 is mounted on the arcuate fingers 54 and 56 for pressing the spatulate ends 60 and 62 into paper engaging relation with the end of the paper strip 38.

A severing weight 70 is provided with supporting arms 72 and 74, one end of which is pivoted in the housing 22 preferably at the ends of the roller 30. The weight 70 is provided with a blunt end or cutting edge 76 which slopes 00th ways from the middle to provide a point 78. The point 78 resting on the paper strip 38 interme diate the support members such as the support members 42 and 44.

In order to prevent too rapid closing of the window 1%) after the paper strip 38 has been severed, a friction guide 80 comprises a pair of U-shaped members 82 and 84 having base members 86 and 88 mounted on the window frame 18 so that the U-shaped members 82 and 84 are in aligned relation. The cord 14 being entrained through the U-shaped members 82 and 84 in a reverse direction so that the cords move in a friction manner therethrough.

The U-shaped members 82 and 84 may be produced closer together or extended farther apart to control the amount of friction on the cord 14 and consequently the speed with which the window 10 descends. In order to further control the tension on the cord 14 and also the angle at which the paper strip 38 is mounted on the sup port member 46, an anchor member such as the screw eye 90 may be mounted on the window frame adjacent the bottom thereof and the cord 14 is secured with a sharp bend behind the head of the screw 90 so that a substantial portion of the tension of the cord 14 is retained by the sharp bend of the cord 14 around the anchor screw 90.

In order to allow the Window 10 to run freely under the influence of the cord 14, the usual sash cords 92 and 94 are drawn up so that the weights 96 no longer exert a pressure on the window section 10 and suitable means such as a clip 98 is applied to the cords 92 and 94 to retain the weights 96 in elevated position. The clips 94 may be any sort of clothes pin type device but herein shown as U-shaped metallic clip members having a resilient force for retaining the legs 100 and 102 in pressed together relation so they may be slipped on the cords 92 or 94 and supply suflicient friction to prevent running-of the cord therethrough.

In theeventit is desired to raise the window and maintain it in raised position regardless of the entry of moisture through the window, suitable means such as ahook and eye 104 may be connected between the window 10 and the window frame 18 so that the window will be retained in elevated position regardless of moisture entering therethrou-gh.

In the operation of the automatic window closer according to the invention'the housing 22 is mounted adjacent the bottom of the window or even outside of the window so that the strip ofpaper 38- will be exposed to moisture in or adjacent the window. The window section 10 is elevated by means of the cord- 14 entrained over the sheaves 16 and 20 and heldin friction engagement by means of the friction guide 80 and reverse bend around the book 90. The paper strip 38 is positioned in the housing 22 with the roller held in non-rotating position and the cord and the end of the paper strip are connected together by means of the clamp 52. The cutting weight 70 is then applied to the dry paper strip which will readily support the same. In the event excessive moisture comes through the window the paper strip 38, which. is preferably of the pulp type paper known as newsprint, will become very much weakened because of the added moisture content so that the cutting weight 70 will sever the strip 38 allowing the cord 14 to pass upwardly through a friction guide 80 with the window 10 coming down to close the aperture and exclude the moisture therefrom.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a convenient and economical method of closing the windows in response tothe access of excessive moisture thereto so that windows may be left open when theowner is away from home and the windows will automatically close in the event it rains in.

While for purpose of exemplification a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according the best present understanding thereof, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing the true spirit and purpose of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A weather responsive closer comprising a cord attached in supporting relation to a raised Window, a housing mounted adjacent the window opening, a roller journaled in said housing, a moisture absorbing strip of paper wound on said roller, a plurality of spaced apart supports mounted in said housing, said strip being entrained over said supports, means securing said cord to said strip, a blunt edged weight surmounting and resting on said strip intermediate said supports to sever said strip when weakened by moisture, a sheave mounted above said window, said cord being entrained over said sheave, said housing being mounted adjacent the bottom of the Window opening, mounting arms fixed to said weight and journaled in said housing, a detent wheel on one end of said roller, and a detent arm pivoted on said housing for swinging into engagement with said wheel to prevent unwinding of the strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,26 Comer Nov. 27, 1917 1,279,843 Cockey Sept. 24, 191 1,355,246 Myvolt et al. oct. 12, 1920 1,586,073 Davis May 25, 1926' 2,95 ,102 Phillip Oct. 20, 1936 2,234,902 Keppel Nov. 11, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 117,556 Germany Feb. 7, 1901 

